Artificial tooth.



L E EVSLIN. ARTIFICIAL TOOTH; 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 19I5.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

INVENTORY Z60 EEmsfim.

a TED Lno n. EVSLi'N, or new YORK,

' FFICE.

N321, assr'e'non; :BY MEsnE nss oivntnncrs, 'ro LEE- SURGICO-DENTAL MF"G CO., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ARTIFICIAL roo'rn.

. and more particularly to artificial teeth of the class known as interchangeable or re placeable teeth, and comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction of such teeth, in the backings therefor,.and in the mode of securing the 'backings to the teeth. 7 A principal object of my invention is to produce an artificial tooth of the kind indicated adapted to afford maximum strength for masticating purposes, as well as maximum strength in attachment to the roots of the natural teeth by which such artificial teeth are supported in that form of artificial denture known as crown work and for attachment to suitable abutments in that form of artificial denture known as bridge work, without the exhibition of any gold or other metal work in connection with the teeth when the latter are in position in the mouth of the wearer, thereby conserving one of the most important advantages of artificial teeth formed of porcelain or other similar material, namely, their's'imulation ;-3 5

of the natural teeth with complete invisibility of all metal work whatsoever necessarily employed in connection therewith;

Further objects of my invention are to form an artificial tooth of porcelain or other similar material in such manner as to inake it substantially self-retaining as regards its metallic backing in order that the cement used in uniting the tooth thereto may serve merely as'a binding material between the porcelain and the metal, and to form the back-or lingual portion of the porcelain tooth in such manner as. to minimize the chance of relative displacement betweenthe tooth and the backing due to the motion of the jawsin mastication, and to so form that portion of the tooth as to Specification of Letters Patent.

- illustrated in Figures 1 preferred manner of carrying Out my invena Patented oea'aniaie.

Application filed May 20. 1915. Serial No. 29,270.

enhance its holding capacity with relation to its backlng, and to assist in its stability with regard to the natural tooth or abutment to which the latter may be aflixed, in such manner that entire reliance for supporting the artificial tooth in relation thereto need not be placed solely in-the post or pivot, but that the tooth itself shall assist the post or plvot in maintaining the. artificial denture in fixed relation to the support to which it may be attached. My. invention further includes all the other various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified. i I

In the accompanying to 7, inclusive, a

tion as applied to a cuspid-tooth, Fig. 1 being an enlarged side elevation ofthe tooth with its backing and supporting pin in place; Fig. 2,' a side elevation of a similar tooth, the backing, however, being shown in central vertical section; Fig. 3, a central, vertical section of the backing removed from the tooth; Fig. 4, a central, vertical section through the tooth with the backing and pin in place; Fig. 5, a rear elevation of the tooth, with the backing and pin inposition; Fig. 6, a bottom plan view of-the tooth, with the backing and pin in position, and

Fig. 7, a rear elevation of the tooth, with the backing and pin removed therefrom. In

Figs '8 to 14, inclusive, are shown corresponding views of the invention in connection with a molar tooth, Fig. 8 being a side elevation of the tooth with the backing and-pin'in position; Fig. 9, aside elevation of the tooth with the backing shown in central, vertical section; Fig. 10, a central, vertical section ofthe backing removed from the tooth; Fig. 11, a central, vertical secton through the tooth, with the backing and pin in position, Fig. 12, a rear elevation of the tooth, with the backing and-pin in position; Fig. 13, a bottom plan view of the tooth, with the backing and pin in position, and Fig. 14, a rear elevation of the tooth, with the backing and pin removed therefrom. In Fig. 15 is shown a slightly modified form of the device illustrated by a central, vertidrawing I have method of forming the teeth hereinafter decal section through a cuspid tooth, and in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 is shown a substantially similar modified form as applied to a molar tooth; Iii-showing the tooth in side elevation, with the backing and pin in position; Fig. 17, the tooth in side elevation, with the backing in central, vertical section, andFig. 18 the backing in central, vertical section removed from the tooth, these figures corresponding respectively to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrating the preferred form of construction as applied to a molar tooth, and-Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as applied to a cuspid tooth. In Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a form of pin or pivot of the form which prefer to employ. I

For the purpose of attaining theseveral objects of my invention, I form the rear or lingual portion of an artificial tooth composed preferably of porcelain or other desired material in such manner that the same shall present a substantially square or rectangular outwardly projecting abutment which affords a substantial and adequate support for the metal backing upon which the tooth is mounted, and while I mav construct the lingual portion of the toothin any manner suitable and effective for accomplishingthe results desired, I prefer to form the same substantially as shown in the drawing in which the invention is illustrated in connection with both ,cuspid and molar teeth, the

scribed in regard to the latter being also suitable for use in connection with bicuspid teeth as Well.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, in which the invention is illustrated as applied to a cuspid tooth 1, having a cutting edge 2 and a cervical border 3, the tooth proper being formed of porcelain or similar material in the wellknown'manner, the tooth is provided at its rear or lingual portion with a plurality of inwardly cut and suitably disposed V-shaped grooves, one of these grooves 6 extending substantially transversely across the tooth adjacent the cervical border and being inwardly and upwardly directed, while a similar grcove 8 also extends transversely across the tooth somewhat below the rubber line indicated at 10. Extending upwardly from the ends of the groove 6, substantially parallel with the labial face 12 of the tooth and to a point about two-thirds of the distance from the cervical border 8 to the cutting edge 2 and on either side of the tooth, I provide aninwardly directed shoulder 15, and from the upper ends 16 of which and extending rearwardly substantially parallel with the upper lingual surface 18 to meet the ends of the groove 8, I provide another inwardly directed shoulder 20 on either side of the tooth extending from the end 16 of na'oaeeo the shoulder 15 to the end of the transverse groove 8. The sides 22 of the tooth between the shoulders 15 and 20 are preferably somewhat indented or depressed for a depth equal to that of the' shoulders, as best shown in Fig. 7. Ifdesired the grooves instead of being made of constant depth,

may be made deeper toward their central portions and shallower toward their ends, the latter gradually merging into their adjacent surfaces instead of terminating abruptly. It will be evident that the direction and formation as well as the depth and configuration of the several grooves and shoulders Wlll necessarily be somewhat varied in different sizes and shapes of cuspid teeth, but the substantial arrangement I structed by swaging the material over the.

tooth 1 formed as previously described, or over a suitable replica of the same, the metal during this operation being snugly forced into all of the various grooves and den-ressions hereinbefore described to perfectly conform to the, same, and being turned outwardly over the sides of the tooth adjacent the shoulders 15 to formsuitable side lips 32 extending on either side of the tooth from adjacent the cervical border thereof to the points 16, at the upper ends of the shoulder 15, another upwardly turned posterior lip 34 being also formed to surround the upper lingual portion 18 of the tooth,- as best shown in Fig. 1, and extending from either point 16 completely around the tooth to the 4 corresponding point upon the opposite side thereof. It will be evident that a backing formed as described will completely cover and inclose the indented and grooved portionsiofthe tooth, and will afford a substantial and adequate support to the various parts thereof, and form a suitable backing therefor and that by reason of the disposition and arrangement of the grooves and shoulders upon the tooth, the backing will tend to adhere to the tooth when in operative. position thereon without the aid of cement or other artificial fastening means, and

will thus assist such means, when employed in practice, in maintaining the backing and toothin fixed relation.

lhe tooth may be provided with an upwardlyprojecting socket 40 suitable for the reception of a pin or pivot 41, having a flanged head 42, said pin being preferably formed slightly oval in shape in order.

incense to prevent rotation relative to the tooth when positioned therein. The backing is tially at the center of therectangular out wardly projecting portion '25 of the 'tooth and corresponding portion of the backing, in which position the pin may be secured by suitable cement'lnot shown) or in any other preferred'manner" as understood by those skilled in the art.

In Figs. 8 to l-l, inclusive, is illustrated the preferred form of my invention as applied to a molar tooth as distinguished from a cuspid tooth hereinbefore described, andin view of the 'extended' description already given of the invention as-applied to a cuspid tooth, it is believed that the application of the same to a molar tooth would be entirely clear to those skilled in the art without any description thereof. Briefly, however, a'

molar tooth 60, having a masticating surface 61, and cervical border 62, and formed of porcelain or other suitable material, is provided with upwardly extending, inwardly directed shoulders 64 on either side, from the ends of the lower transverse inwardly and upwardly directed groove 65 corresponding to groove 6 on the cuspid tooth to a point 67 about two-thirds of the distance from the cervical border 62,'to the masticating surface 61 of the tooth. The shoulders 64 may preferably extend in a slightly convex formation in opposition to the somewhat convex labial face 68 of the tooth. From either point 67 at the upper ends of the shoulders 6i and extending backwardly on either side of the tooth to meet the upper transverse groove 69 corresponding to groove 20 already described in connection with the cuspid tooth is an inwardly directed shoulder 70 substantially parallel with the upper surface of the tooth and located a short distance below the same, the sides of the tooth between the shoulders being preferably indented or depressed to a depth equal to that of the shoulders, similarly to the cuspid tooth previously described to form surface 71. By forming the tooth in the manner indicated there is thus presented a substantially rectangular outwardly projecting base 72 definedby the various shoulders and grooves similar to the base 25 already described and suitable for the reception of the corresponding portion 7 5 of the backing 76, which may beswagedup as hereinbefore described in connection with the cuspid tooth, and which comprises the side lips 78 engaging the lat- .eral sides of'the tooth and posterior lip 80 surrounding the lingual portion of the tooth below the masticating surface, which latter lip may preferably be made relatively deeper in a vertical direction than the corresponding lip 73%. upon the cuspid tooth, thereby in- ,creasing the effective surface of the backing.

A suitable socket 82, preferably upwardly and inwardly directed, is formed in the body of the'tooth for the reception of the pin 41 which passes through an opening 84:

, in the backing and may be secured within the tooth in a manner similar to that previously described in connection with the cuspid tooth, said socket being preferably surrounded. with an inwardly directed flange 85, corresponding to flange 46 in the backing for the cuspid tooth. The teeth, either cuspid, molar or bicuspid, having been formed and assembled upon their respective backing as previously described, and preferably se-' cured thereto with suitable cement, may be positioned upon the support designed there for by use of any of the various means known to persons skilled in the art, as for instance, by soldering the backing and pin head 42 to the support or abutment, or in any other desired way, it being evident that when the tooth is secured in position thereon that the backing will securely and rigidly support the porcelain portion in such manner that accidental displacement of the same with relation to the backing, or support to which the backing is attached, is practically impossi ble. It will be further evident that if the porcelain portion of the tooth be thereafter damaged in any way, and it be desired to replace the same, the porcelain tooth may be new one supplied of course formed in a similar manner to the old porcelain so as to.

rected shoulders 94 and 95 on either side of the tooth. When this construction is employed the surfaces 98 defined between the two shoulders 94 and 95-will be not quite so deeply indented or depressed as the surface 99 between the shoulder 95 and shoulder 64:,

and which corresponds to surface 71, and by forming the tooth in this manner the effective supporting surface for the backing is materially increased and the rectangular portion 100 isformed. Furthermore, itwill be evident that, if desired, three or more transverse grooves may be employed re spectively connected to point 67 by suitable shoulders. In Fig. 18 a similar modified form of the invention is illustrated as applied to a cuspid tooth, a plurality of upper grooves 96 and 97, corresponding to grooves 90 and 91, being formed in the tooth, and extending to the upper ends of the upwardly directed shoulders extending from adjacent the cervical border of the tooth toward the cutting edge thereof, a construction which it is believed will be clearly comprehended from 'the foregoing description of the similar modified form applied to a molar tooth and illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17,-inclusive. Itwill be understood that in these modified forms of the invention the backing is formed in such manner that it will snugly engage in the various grooves, shoulders anddepressions formed in the tooth in a manner similar to that previously described in connection. with the preferred forms of the invention, and that suitable sockets will be provided in the tooth for the reception of the pivot pin 41 and surrounding flange on the backing as hereinbefore described.

It will be evident that by slightly varying the direction and depth of the grooves, shoulders and depressions upon any given tooth, that the projecting, substantially rectangular portion of the tooth against which the backing abuts may be arranged to project from the tooth in varying angular relation therewith as may be desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention,

and it will be further evident that various other minor changes in the shape and construction of the various parts ofthe device and in the materials which may be utilized to form the same in order to adapt the invention to the varying conditions found in practice may be made without'departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 4

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States: i

1. The combination of an artificial tooth formedof porcelain or the like having an undercut transverse groove in the lingual face of said tooth and extending substan-' tially parallel to the rear lingual edge of I said tooth, a surface of said groove being a substantially plane surface slightly inclined from the lingual portion of said tooth toward the front or outer edge of the articulative portion of said tooth to form an unaaoaeso dercut seat, and a metal backing for said tooth covering the rear side of said tooth and fitting against said surface of said groove. v

:2. The combination of an artificial tooth formed of porcelain or the like and having a plurality of inwardly directed transverse grooves and an outwardly projecting, substantially-rectangular portion, and a metallic backing operative to engage said grooves and to inclose said portion and comprising a plurality of lips operative to engage the exterior surface of said tooth.

'3. The combination of an artificial tooth formed of porcelain or. the like and comprising a pair of shoulders on its lateral sides extending upwardly from adjacent the cervical border, a transverse groove connecting the lower ends of said shoulders, a pair of shoulders extending rearwardly from the upper-ends of said first-mentioned shoulders', and a. transverse groove connecting the ends thereof, whereby a substantially rectangular, outwardly projecting abutment is defined, and a metallic backing inclosing said I abutment and engaging said shoulders and said grooves.

4. The combination of an artificial tooth formed of porcelain or the like and comprising a pair of inwardly directed shoulders on its lateral sides extending upwardly from adjacent the cervical border, a transverse groove connecting the lower ends 'of said shoulders, inwardly directed shoulders on either side of the tooth extending rearwardly from the upper extremities of said firstmentioned shoulders, and a transverse groove connecting said last-mentioned shoulders, whereby a substantially rectangular, outwardly projecting abutment is defined, and a metallic backing inclosing said abutment and engaging said grooves, said backing and a plurality of lips extending from said backing and operative to engage the lateral sides and the lingual portion of said body adjacent said shoulders.

5. The combination with an artificial tooth formed of porcelain or the like and having a plurality of inwardly directed grooves and shoulders terminating at the ends of said said flange and Within said socket whereby said backing is malntained in operative relation to said tooth.

6. The combination with an artificial tooth having a plurality of laterally disposed, con- I verging shoulders whereby a substantially V-shaped depressed surface is defined on either side of the tooth and a pair of transverse, inwardly directed grooves connecting 10 the ends of said shoulders, of a -metal back ing operative to engage in said grooves and beneath said shoulders, and means to maintain said backing in operative relation With said tooth.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 

